Prime Engine revved up his motor to high gear in the stretch en route to a six-length victory in the $65,000 Emerald Downs Derby on Aug. 9.

Prime Engine, wearing blinkers for the first time, stalked Betrbegone before mounting his stellar stretch rally to win going away.
Ridden by Joe Steiner, Prime Engine ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:47.54 on a fast track. Mike Puhich is the winning trainer for owner Dr. Mark Dedomenico of Redmond, Wash.

“I was really looking forward to riding this horse,” Steiner said. “I finally got the opportunity, and he’s wonderful.

“I was playing the race as it came up,” Steiner added. “If I had been on the lead easy myself, I would’ve done that. If he were content sitting off a horse like he did today, that’d was fine too. He has so much talent and class.”

A Kentucky-bred out of Gravy Train’s Song, Prime Engine is 3-2-0 in seven career starts with earnings of $110,961 including a win in the 2014 Gottstein Futurity for 2-year-olds, also at Emerald Downs.

Prime Engine helped push Northern Afleet’s 2015 progeny earnings near the $3 million mark. His three graded stakes winners this year include Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup “Win and Your In” Challenge race winner Barolo.